AmaZulu coach Pablo Franco Martin has explained the slow start of Rowan Human at his side, saying he arrived at the club in the later part of the pre-season and that has worked against him.
Human was a wanted man during the off season after Maritzburg United were relegated to the Motsepe Foundation Championship, with Usuthu appearing to beat Kaizer Chiefs to the player, who was wearing number 10 at the Umgungundlovu club.
Human was part of Bafana Bafana’s makeshift side coached by Morena Ramoreboli in the COSAFA Cup in Durban in June and July, scoring the winning penalty in the regional tournament in the bronze play-off against Malawi.
Despite Maritzburg going down to the Motsepe Foundation Championship, his engine revved up to the high gears towards the end of the season, scoring three of their four goals scored in the futile PSL play-offs.
His form caught many teams thinking that he was a player that didn’t deserve to play in the second tier and AmaZulu won the race to sign him.
Expected to kick on from there, it has not been an easy start and coach Martin said the former Bidvest Wits attacker is still adjusting to life with the club but explained that having been signed late in the off-season has worked against him.
“He came very late, he didn’t have any pre-season because he was with Bafana Bafana,” said Martin.
“So we need to get him fit as soon as possible.”
Martin said Human was close to featuring against TS Galaxy, who they beat 1-0 at Moses Mabhida Stadium last week, but the plan was ripped apart.
“He was on my game-plan for the second half but you know circumstances were different and finally he is not playing, but it is not because he is not doing a good job, some of the players were in the same situation,” he added.
“Like for example Pule Ekstein and I wanted to say publicly that he was not playing, but training very good. Pule had his chance and took it, so this is what players need to do.
“I know for Human it is a tough situation for him but he needs to keep working hard and be ready because when he has the chance he needs to take it.”
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Human was involved in a friendly match on Thursday against an unnamed club, which is part of fast-tracking him to get to his form.
Usuthu, who are 14th on the DStv Premiership table with six points after four matches, next host Cape Town City at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on 17 September.
